William Herbert J. Disbrowe entered the Army in 1854 and became a Lieutenant that same year. He served with the 17th Leicestershire Regiment of Foot and took part in the siege of Sebastopol and the assault on Redan during the Crimean War. He survived the war and remained with the regiment. He is mentioned in the Army List of 1859-60 as having died but it does not say whether this was in action. The Disbrowe family would have been known to Queen Victoria, since several of its members had served in the Royal Household.